North Korea builds new 'tactical nuclear attack submarine'

North Korea announced on Friday that it had built a 'tactical nuclear attack submarine' as part of efforts to strengthen its naval forces, the state news agency KCNA reported.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un presided over the unveiling ceremony on Wednesday,
saying the new submarine was part of 'progress with nuclear weapons in the navy in the
future,' according to KCNA.

The launch of submarine No. 841, named Hero Kim Kun Ok, 'heralded the beginning of a new
chapter in strengthening naval forces,' KCNA reported.

North Korea has conducted a record number of weapons tests this year, and last month failed in its second attempt to place a spy satellite into orbit, AFP recalls.
On Thursday, Kim inspected the submarine as it prepared for a test cruise.

'Saying that arming the navy with nuclear weapons is an urgent task... he emphasized
the need to enable the navy to successfully carry out its strategic duty by accelerating the transfer of underwater and surface vessels equipped with tactical nuclear weapons to the navy,' KCNA quoted Kim as saying.

According to the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a US-based think tank, North Korea is estimated to have between 64 and 86 submarines, one of the largest submarine fleets in the world. However, experts doubt that all are operational given their age, NTI states.